Authors: Fiona Palmer
Jaz made the round pillar with its peeling paint and cement cracks. With her back pressed against it, she held her gun up, ready to spin around and fire.
She knew roughly where the shooters were. It all happened so quickly, she turned, spotted the targets and fired. She got one in the arm while the other ducked for cover. But in the meantime Cody had slid in behind a box, giving him just enough cover. She couldn’t help but grin when she saw him pushing the box forward as he shimmied along behind, getting closer but having protection. Nice one. She could see why he had been picked to join the Agency.
While Cody finished an assault on the last target, Jaz shot the two coming up the stairs into the room.
‘Oh, man,’ said one of them. The other one, a girl, screamed from the shock of being hit.
When she glanced back to Cody he was signalling that the room was clear, so they quickly headed to the doorway into the next room.
They made it to the last room all too quickly and with plenty more ammo to use. Jaz was disappointed it was all over. ‘I want to go again,’ she said to Cody as they pulled off their masks. Ryan stood nearby, his overalls completely free of paint splats. He was trying hard not to grin. Jaz hoped he was impressed with his students.
Cody gripped her shoulders and shook her gently. ‘Totally. That was awesome. The way you used that crate to draw fire.’
‘What about you with that box. Genius,’ she said, bursting with adrenaline.
‘We had to, those two shooters were hard core, man,’ said Cody. ‘Better shot than I am.’
‘Why thank you,’ said Taylor as he walked up behind them, pulling off his mask. He was also wearing the same camouflage overalls.
‘Tay!’ said Jaz giving him a hug.
‘Hey, he didn’t do it alone,’ said Anna. ‘Sharp shooters times two.’ She had a blue splash of paint on her arm. Her eyes were bright.
Jaz turned to Ryan. ‘You got these guys?’
Ryan shrugged. ‘I needed to make sure you had some stiff competition. Just as well, you mowed through the rest without too much hassle.’
‘We have to do that again,’ said Tay. ‘I loved it.’
‘I agree. Hey Cody, these are my friends Taylor and Anna,’ she said as they all stood by the end collection point.
‘Nice to meet you all.’ Cody flashed Anna his cute grin.
Taylor frowned while Anna beamed.
They disrobed and headed outside. ‘Hey, Anna. You and Tay were awesome today.’
Anna laughed. ‘Why do you sound so surprised?’ She shook her head. ‘But you are right, Ryan gave us a few pointers. Said we’d need it coming up against you two. For real, you guys looked like a SWAT team as you cleared the rooms.’
Cody dropped back, letting Ryan and Tay chat, and threw his arm around Jaz. ‘You looked bloody hot in there, Jaz. I’d have you on my team any day,’ he said with wink.
‘Well, you will, next week,’ she clarified with a grin. Anna didn’t say a thing, she already knew about her mission with Cody and then her own one with Marcus’s father. Jaz loved that she could tell Anna everything now.
Cody didn’t seem bothered that Anna knew either as he rolled his eyes. ‘Smart arse. So are you ever going to tell me about your bullet wound, or your trip to Pakistan?’ he whispered.
Anna paused, flinging her arm out across Jaz’s chest. ‘What about Pakistan? Oh my God. Did you go on that mission?’ Her face contorted in disbelief and shock. Then a second later she shook her head. ‘I should have bloody guessed. Explains why I had to cover for you.’ Anna locked onto her eyes. ‘You and I have to have a little chat later.’ It wasn’t an offer, more like an order.
‘Yep, figured.’
Cody groaned. ‘All I could find out from Mac was that you’d gone to Pakistan with Ryan. Why won’t anyone tell me more?’
‘Maybe one day,’ teased Jaz.
‘You guys wanna head to Molly’s for a coffee?’ said Taylor, pausing by Ryan’s car.
‘Sounds great,’ said Anna, and then went on to tell Cody about their favourite meeting place.
‘I’m in.’
‘Are you guys right to head back with Jaz?’ said Ryan. ‘I have to head off.’ He glanced at his watch.
‘Yeah, they’re fine with me. You got a hot date?’ she said curiously.
She’d meant it as a joke but the way Ryan turned his back to open his car made her feel uneasy.
‘Right, I’ll catch up with you both next week.’ Ryan then got into his car and drove away.
Jaz felt that sense of loss she always got when watching him leave, and was curious as to who he would be meeting. Something made her think it was a woman and she didn’t like it one bit.
***
At Molly’s the coffee and company soon had her feeling better.
‘My dad’s been with the forces his whole life and now trains the future Commandos and Special Air Service Regiments,’ said Cody, leaning back in his chair. ‘My whole life he’s been filling my head with all this stuff. Physical toughness is an important attribute but is only one component. Judgement, decisiveness, mental dexterity, leadership, innovation and humanity are all elements.’ With a sigh, Cody picked up a small packet of sugar and played with it. ‘He’s quite old, my dad. He met my mum and they ended up with me. He’s never really been a proper father and for that reason I haven’t wanted to follow his footsteps into the SAS or Commandos.’
‘So, what, the Agency is different?’ asked Jaz softly. Anna and Tay hunched forward, listening intently.
Cody shrugged. ‘Part of me believes in what they are all working for. I’ve been shaped for it my whole life. But this, the Agency, is more on my terms, you know? Plus I’d rather him not know I’m turning out like him.’
Jaz grinned. ‘So he just thinks you’re a surfie bum?’
‘Too right,’ said Cody with a wink. ‘And that’s the way I like it.’
‘Wow, your dad must have seen some stuff over the years,’ said Taylor. ‘Bet the training is intense.’
‘Yeah, you could say that. More are injured in training than on actual missions. But it’s like what we have to do, Jaz, for the Agency. They train us by putting us in the missions, so really it’s no different.’
Jaz was seeing a different guy to the image he portrayed. Behind those blue eyes were strength and a desire for justice. ‘What was it like growing up with your dad?’ she asked. Something passed across his eyes and Jaz knew she’d trodden on dangerous ground.
Anna shot her a cautious look but no one said anything. They just waited.
‘Some days it was great, other days he would test me. Mental stuff like going without water or sleep, and testing my resolve like pushing me to continue on when we would go hiking. If I stopped for a rest, I risked being left behind and getting lost. I’m sure it all shaped me into a strong person, but I think what I needed most then was a compassionate father. There is a reason he makes a good trainer. He wants all his men to survive so he makes sure they are tested on every level.’
‘Man, I never would have known,’ said Tay. ‘You do the surfie look well.’
Cody smiled. ‘Appearances and perception are a part of the game.’
Just then, Jaz’s phone rang. It was Marcus. She spoke to him quickly before hanging up. All eyes on her.
‘So you going to catch up with him now?’ asked Anna.
‘Yep. He’s booked us a table at Baciare. I have to get dressed up.’
‘Nice one. Pulling out the wallet, hey. Fancy place that. He’s serious,’ said Anna, with a forlorn expression.
Jaz knew just what she was thinking. How serious was it going to get before Jaz could break up with him. She knew how she felt and Jaz hoped it wasn’t for much longer. She had no way of knowing what would happen after her mission.
As they finished their coffees, they made a move to the door.
‘Cheers for that,’ said Cody. ‘Can we do paintball again? Next time me and Anna against you two.’ Anna was nodding emphatically. ‘Or we could go guys against girls?’
‘The last one,’ said Tay. ‘I’m all for it.’
‘Me too. Next Saturday? Same time?’ said Jaz.
They all agreed. Cody left in his rusty jeep while her friends piled into her Jeep Wrangler.
‘He seems nice,’ said Anna.
‘Jury’s still out,’ said Tay, as he shut his door and stared out the window.
It was a quiet trip home for all of them. Maybe they were thinking about Cody’s childhood, their future missions, or maybe her date with Marcus. All three had been circling around Jaz’s mind like hunting lions. No wonder she felt mentally tired. But when the time came, she’d paste on her dutiful girlfriend smile and pretend life was rosy.
Jaz was feeling nervous.
Maybe it was the fitted blue dress with the exposed back teamed up with her black high heels, or maybe it was being with Marcus and wondering how this night would turn out? Who knew? She’d picked this dress for not only did it cover her thighs, more importantly it covered the bullet wound. The high heels made her wound hurt but they totally made the dress pop so she was willing to handle the pain. In a way she put it down to training, pushing through pain and learning to handle it.
As she pulled up into Marcus’s driveway, she checked she had her fake ID and cards in her small matching black clutch.
His mother let her in.
‘Welcome Jaz. Don’t you look gorgeous?’
‘Thanks Diane.’ Jaz automatically checked her hair. The elegant twist high on her hair was still in place.
‘Wow.’ Marcus stood staring for a moment before moving to her side and dropping a sweet kiss on her cheek. He was wearing black dress pants and a button-up dark blue shirt. His hair was pulled back into a knot at the nape of his neck. The whole ensemble made him look years older. She wondered if they were his black leather shoes or his father’s. ‘Ready to go?’
‘Sure am. Bye Diane, hope you have a good night,’ said Jaz as she glanced around the house, wondering if Carl was home.
‘A TV dinner and wine while watching a movie for me. It will be bliss,’ Diane said with a tired smile. ‘You kids enjoy your night.’
Marcus drove them to Baciare, a beautiful riverfront Italian restaurant that you had to book well in advance for a table.
‘I’ve always wanted to eat here. Everyone raves about it,’ she said as he parked his car. Marcus came around and opened her door. He took her hand and they walked the short distance to the restaurant. Nearby a couple were making out against a red BMW. The girl wore a matching red dress and had her arms around a guy in a tailored navy suit. It actually looked romantic and postcard perfect, with the couple kissing in the glow from a nearby lamp and the lights reflecting off the river in the background. Would that be her after this meal, having passionate moments with Marcus by the river?
‘Some people have no decorum,’ whispered Marcus with a chuckle.
He pulled her hand up to his lips and kissed it before they entered the restaurant. The smell of garlic and rich sauces assaulted her nose, making her mouth water. ‘Oh, I’m so hungry.’
They waited to be seated at their reserved table; a few other couples were waiting also. Maybe they hadn’t been able to get a booking and were hoping for a spot. The restaurant felt fancy but had a relaxed Italian feel, lots of clean lines, but warmth came from the lush red accents and exposed brick walls. Jaz felt like such a grown-up playing with the adults.
Just as Marcus leant over the lectern to talk to the waiter, the door opened letting in the cool night and a high-pitched laugh. Moments later Jaz was nudged as a person bumped into her.
‘Oh sorry,’ said a lady.
Jaz turned to find the woman in the red dress from outside. She smiled apologetically as she clung onto her date, the man from the car park in the deep blue suit with an open-necked shirt. There was something strangely familiar about the breadth of his shoulders. As her eyes roamed up, she found those dark familiar eyes. Ryan. She’d never seen him in a suit before, no wonder it took so long to recognise him.
Her heart was pounding in her chest. Jaz tried to hide her surprise while her thoughts ran around her head like a group of screaming banshees. Who was this woman? Was this a real date? Had he found himself a girlfriend?
Ryan had been smiling at his date before he spotted Jaz. It fell from his face immediately. Being ‘on duty’, Jaz couldn’t acknowledge Ryan, but it didn’t stop her appreciating the vision before her. He smelt divine as always.
‘I have to say, I just love your dress,’ said the woman. She was pretty. Long blonde hair and a curvaceous figure many would kill for, especially in that little red dress. She also looked late twenties.
‘Oh, thank you.’ Jaz forced a smile and avoided Ryan’s eyes, which seemed to be assessing her dress also.
‘Jaz, this way,’ said Marcus, drawing her back to reality.
‘Have a nice night.’ Jaz tried to keep the shock from her voice. She turned, keeping her posture perfect and let Marcus guide her to their table, his hand gently on her naked back.
They were seated up against the side wall, not far from the wide front windows that soaked up the river view. The moment Jaz sat in the plush red chair her eyes went back to Ryan and his mysterious woman. Ryan had his back to Jaz as he talked to his date. Was he embarrassed? Ashamed? Caught out? Jaz wanted to let it go but her heart wanted to know if his date was something serious. Was he moving away from Jaz? Using this woman to keep them apart and focused on their work?
‘You are ten times prettier than her,’ said Marcus.
Jaz turned to him and smiled. ‘You have to say that because I’m your girlfriend,’ she said, feeling a warmth spread through her at his sweet words.
‘No, I just see it truthfully. She is easy on the eyes but she looks high maintenance, whereas you are just beautiful and there is something about you, Jaz, that radiates sweetness and a down to earth quality. I am the luckiest man here.’
‘Well, you just filled up the jar with brownie points, smooth talker,’ she said with a forced smile. Jaz was calm on the outside but inside questions about Ryan and his date were still running at a rapid rate. ‘Shall we order?’ Jaz picked up the menu but diverted her eyes towards Ryan. He was moving across the room with his hand caressing the woman tenderly, causing Jaz’s stomach to clench painfully, like an attack of food poisoning. Ryan sat at his table, right in Jaz’s line of sight. He looked up and met her gaze.